Pediatric Dentistry

Your child's smile is precious, which is why it's important to keep it healthy and clean. At Melillo Dental, James Melillo, DDS, Dasny Castillo-Beltran, DDS, and the team provide excellent pediatric dentistry services for their youngest patients in Yonkers, New York. Schedule a visit by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.

How is pediatric dentistry unique?

When it comes to dental care, children have different needs than adults. The dental clinic is still a new space for them, and an appointment with the dentist is still an unfamiliar and potentially scary situation. 

If your child's early dental care isn't handled in a fun, friendly, and social manner, it could create dental phobias that stick around for life. 

A pediatric dentist has special training to help make your child's experience as warm and comfortable as possible. There's no one-size-fits-all approach, and your child's provider tailors their treatment and care to your child's specific needs, preferences, and personality. 

That might simply mean spending a little more time with them to connect on a personal level, or avoiding potentially stressful words like "drill," "needle," and "injection." 

When should my child start seeing the dentist?

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, your child should start seeing a dentist as soon as their first tooth appears and no later than their first birthday. 

This might seem early, but starting your child's dental care as soon as possible gives the team an opportunity to establish a connection and more extensively monitor their growth and development. It also gives them more latitude to protect your child from infant and toddler tooth decay.

What pediatric services do you offer?

Melillo Dental offers an array of services and treatments to keep your child's smile healthy, including:

Cleanings and exams

Regular dental cleanings and exams are essential for your child's teeth. Even if they diligently brush and floss, there might still be tough-to-reach areas that have accumulated decay-causing plaque and tartar. 

During your child's cleaning, one of the exceptional hygienists uses specialized tools to remove all buildup from your child's teeth, leaving them with a perfectly clean, healthy mouth. 

Your child's dentist also inspects your child's mouth for any signs of developing oral health concerns, like tooth decay or gum disease, and reviews proper brushing and flossing techniques so they can maintain their healthy smile at home.

Fillings

Fillings are a trusted solution for treating cavities caused by tooth decay, which are common among both children and adults. Your child's dentist removes all of the decayed material from your child's tooth and then fills the resulting hole with a filling material that prevents new decay from developing.

Sealants

Because children are still learning how to properly brush and floss, their molars (which are full of deep grooves) are susceptible to harboring food particles and bacteria that cause decay. 

As a preventive measure, your child's dentist can treat their molars with dental sealants — a thin layer of protective material painted on the chewing surfaces. That material hardens, forming a smooth surface on top of your child's tooth that protects it from debris getting stuck.

Schedule your pediatric dentistry visit with Melillo Dental by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.